Fifth-wheel



(No Model.)

W. H. THURBER. Fifth Wheel.

No.v 233,897.I

N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WASHINGTON. D C..

UNITED rares ArtNr trice.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 233,897, dated November 2, 1880.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WM. H. THURBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clyde, in the county ofIowa and State ofWisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective of the fifth-wheel and reach, looking from the front; Fig. 2, a frontview, partly iu section; Fig. 3, a side view, partly in section, and Fig. 4 a detached section of one of the clamps.

My invention relates to fifth-wheels, and has for its object the connection of the reach and iifth-wheels, so that the one may turn on the other, thereby relieving the reach from strain when one wheel is raised higher than the one on the opposite side; and it consists in the construction hereinafter described, and afterward pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter A indicates the fifth-wheel, consisting of the two circles a and b, both being provided with a cross-bar, B, through which is passed the eyeholt C.

The reach D is represented as made with its forward end of reduced diameter and rounded form, as seen at c, while the other portion is of square, octagonal, or other form, except part of it next to and over the circle of the ifthwheel, as seen at d, Fig. 3, which portion is reduced in diameter and rounded in form, the same as the forward end. rEhe forwardrounded portion of this reach is passed through the eye of bolt C, and its end held to the upper circle of the wheel by a clamp, E, bolted or otherwise secured to the wheel, and also by a nut, F, screwed onto the endvthereof. The reach is also secured to the circle by`a clamp, G, usually made in two sections and fitted around the reach at d, and bolted or otherwise secured to the circle a. To that portion of the reach between the cross-bar B and clamp G there is bolted or otherwise secured, as shown, the bolster or pillow H, on which the spring (indicated by dotted lines inFg. 2) rests.

A brace, l, is connected at one end to the lower end of the bolt C, and there held by a nut on the end of the bolt, and at the other end to the reach D, as illustrated in Figs. l and 3. At the point of connection between the brace and reach the latter is cut away, as seen at ein Fig. 3, and the point encircled by the brace is rounded, as illustrated. The brace is held to the reach by the block J, which straddles the reach and is bolted to the brace.

By constructing the reach and fifth-wheel as described the two are securely and strongly held together; the wheel is allowed an oscillatory or rocking movement on the reach, so that when one wheel of the vehicle runs on a higher plane than the other there will be no wrenching or straining ofthe reach.

The parts can be readily put together and taken apart, and where the parts are journaled holes are formed in the clamps to feed lubricants to the parts.

In Fig. 2 the dotted lines beneath the wheel indicate the axle and mode of connecting the wheel thereto. It may here be stated that the wheel is connected to the vehicle in the ordinary way.

rIlhe reach D may extend from axle to axlebeing in one piece-or it may be bolted to another section extending to the rear axle.

Havingdescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the fifth-wheel A, reach D, and eyebolt G, the reach and Wheel being hinged together, as described, to operate as set forth.

2. The combination of the fifth -wheel A, reach D, constructed with rounded portions c and d, and connected to the wheel by eyebolt G and clamps E and G, substantially as described.

3. The reach D, constructed with rounded portions c, d, and c, in combination with fifthwheel A, clamps E and G, eyebolt G, and brace J substantially as set forth,

In testimony whereoi` I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WM. H. THURBER.

Witnesses J. H. FRANKLIN, RoBT. H. KINZIE. 

